Super Zoom Digital Cameras

Super zoom digital cameras tend to be large in size. They often look like slightly smaller Digital SLR cameras. As well as the increasingly powerful zoom lenses they normally have a wide range of features. These include manual exposure controls for the more adventurous photographer that would like to take extra creative control over their photos. Just about all models can shoot High Definition movies, with some recording sound in stereo.

Picture quality tends to be high quality and there is not a significant difference between most of the cameras in this range. Therefore your buying decision is more likely to come down to features and price.

Fuji Finepix HS30EXR

Type: Super Zoom

16 Megapixels 30x Zoom

Guide Price: £299.99 Rating: 86/100

The Finepix HS30EXR is a fully featured digital camera with many of the features you would expect to find on a Digital SLR. Features include a 30x zoom lens. The lens also has wide angle capabilities. There are a set of manual exposure modes and you also have access to manual focusing. There are High Definition movies with stereo sound and manual focusing. You can add extra power by adding an external flash unit via the hot shoe.

Fuji FinePix S4200

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £94.99

The Finepix S4200 is one of the cheaper digital cameras to offer this much zoom power. As well as the flexibility offered by the lens, attractions include a set of manual exposure controls, a 3 inch LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder. Fuji have built in image stabilisation for sharper shots and there is also a super macro mode capable of focusing from 2cm away from your subject.

Fuji FinePix SL240

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £99.99

The Finepix SL240 offers wide angle photography options as well as the more obvious telephoto ones. Features include a set of manual exposure controls as well as image stabilisation, a hot shoe, image stabilisation and High Definition movies. For composing photos you have the choice of using a 3 inch LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder. There is a macro mode that is capable of focusing from 2cm away from your subject.

Fuji FinePix SL300

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 30x Zoom

Guide Price: £159.98

The Finepix SL240 offers wide angle photography options as well as the more obvious telephoto ones. Features include a set of manual exposure controls as well as image stabilisation, a hot shoe, image stabilisation and High Definition movies. For composing photos you have the choice of using a 3 inch LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder. There is a macro mode that is capable of focusing from 2cm away from your subject.

Fuji FinePix X-S1

Type: Super Zoom

12 Megapixels 26x Zoom

Guide Price: £259.98

The Finepix X-S1 is an advanced super zoom digital camera. The 26x zoom lens also has wide angle capabilities. Key features include High Definition movies with stereo sound, image stabilisation, a tilting 3 inch LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder. For close up work the Finepix X-S1 is able to focus from 1cm away from your subject.

Nikon Coolpix L810

Type: Super Zoom

16 Megapixels 26x Zoom

Guide Price: £196.95 Rating: 79/100

The Coolpix L810 scores highly for ease of use. Features include a 3D photography mode, plus the ability to shoot High Definition movies. There is also image stabilisation and a 3 inch LCD screen. Power is supplied by AA batteries. The 26x zoom lens also has wide angle capabilities. The Coolpix L810 is available in black, red and blue.

Olympus SP-720UZ

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 26x Zoom

Guide Price: £153.49

Aside from its obvious ability to zoom in on distant subjects the SP-720UZ is able to squeeze in wide scenes and can focus from 1cm away from your subject in macro mode. There is a burst mode that can reel off up to 6 shots at a rate of 5 frames per second. You can shoot High Definition movies and there is a 3D still photo feature. The LCD screen is 3 inches in size.

Olympus SP-810UZ

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 36x Zoom

Guide Price: £335.99

The SP-810UZ offers exceptional zoom power with a 36x zoom lens. It has a mode for shooting 3D still images and can also record High Definition movies. Image stabilisation is available and there is a 3 inch LCD screen for composing your photos. For close up shots there is a macro mode that can focus from 5 cm away form your subject. The SP-810UZ is available in silver and black.

Olympus SP-820UZ

Type: Super Zoom

14 Megapixels 40x Zoom

Guide Price: £151.99

The big attraction of the Olympus SP-820UZ is the 40x zoom lens. This gives you the flexibility to photograph more or less any typical photo opportunity. Other features include a 3 inch LCD screen, a macro mode that can focus from 1cm away from your subject and the ability to shoot High Definition Movies. Power is supplied by AA batteries.

Olympus SZ-14

Type: Super Zoom

12 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £109.99 Rating: 78/100

The SZ-14 has a wide angle lens for capturing wide scenes in addition to its more obviously ability to zoom in on distant subjects. It is capable of shooting High Definition movies and can create 3D still photos. The LCD screen is 3 inches in size and the battery can be charged by attaching the camera to a USB port. Image stabilisation is available for both still photos and video recordings.

Panasonic DMC FZ150

Type: Super Zoom

12 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £25.97

The Lumix DMC FZ150 is one of the most advanced digital cameras on the market. As well as the extra long zoom lens it has a full set of manual exposure controls. It can take shots at a speed of 12 frames per second and also has a special 3D mode. Image stabilisation is included as is a hot shoe and the ability to store images in RAW format. It can capture Full High Definition movies with stereo sound. The LCD screen is 3 inches in size and pulls away from the body to make your life easier if you find yourself in an awkward shooting position.

Panasonic DMC FZ200

Type: Super Zoom

12 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £287.00

The Lumix DMC FZ200 is one of the most advanced super zoom digital cameras. The 24x zoom lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8. This aperture is available right across the zoom range. Other features include manual exposure controls, a 3 inch LCD screen that can be pulled out and twisted round to give you a more comfortable shooting position and an electronic viewfinder. It also has Image Stabilisation, Full HD movies with stereo sound, Image Stabilisation and a macro mode that can focus from 1 cm away from your subject.

Panasonic DMC FZ48

Type: Super Zoom

12 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £257.67 Rating: 87/100

If you are looking for lens power the Lumix DMC FZ48 has a 24x zoom lens. The lens also has wide angle capabilities and image stabilisation. If you need even more zoom you can opt to decrease the number of megapixels you are shooting at in return for extra zoom up to 46.9x. Other features include a set of manual exposure controls and manual focusing. In addition to the 3 inch LCD screen there is also a viewfinder available for composing images. There is a special mode for shooting 3D still images. You can also record Full High Definition movies with stereo sound.

Panasonic DMC FZ62

Type: Super Zoom

16 Megapixels 24x Zoom

Guide Price: £389.99

The Lumix DMC FZ62 has plenty of features to get your teeth into. As well as the 24x zoom lens there are a set of manual exposure controls (Fully Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority), Image Stabilisation and a 1cm macro mode. You can shoot High Definition Movies with stereo sound. The LCD screen is 3 inches in size and you also have the option of using an electronic viewfinder.

Panasonic DMC LZ20

Type: Super Zoom

16 Megapixels 21x Zoom

Guide Price: £169.99

The Lumix DMC LZ20 is designed in a similar style to a Digital SLR. It has a manual exposure mode, a 3 inch LCD screen and Image Stabilisation. It can also shoot High Definition Movies. Power is supplied by four AA batteries. For close up work this camera can focus from 2cm away from your subject.

Sony DSC HX100V

Type: Super Zoom

16 Megapixels 30x Zoom

Guide Price: £319.99

The Cybershot DSC HX100V has a range of advanced features. These include 3D shooting capabilities and an advanced movie mode. It has a range of manual exposure controls as well as GPS positioning and a built in compass. You can shoot at up to 10 frames per second and there is also a background defocus mode to help produce photos where your subject stands out. The 30x wide angle lens offers wide angle capabilities.